Apparatus for forming cuffs on inner tubes



July 13 1926.

H. D. STEVENS APPARATUS FOR FORMING CUFFS ON INNER TUBES Filed Sept. 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o o a o J a} o o a oo a o o o u o 0 0 O O July 13 lags.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18.-

t m m w WW n. 3 "w a fl J 3 w J A e 1 4 r 2 r p r R E A A 1 0 a J -A m z 1 A rm n W m V WA 7 n J A J W yup 5 7 r n 6 M 8 Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,592,809 PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE D. STEVENS, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORTO THE FIR-ESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORIORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CUFFS ON INNER TUBES.

Application filed September 18, 1922. Serial No. 588,743.

In the manufacture of inner tubes for pneumatic vehicle tires, it is the practice to form the tube in a single length on a mandrel and after the tube is vulcanized to splicethe ends of the tube with a slight overlap. In splicing the tube it is necessary to form what isknown in the art as single cuffs and double cufi's on the ends of the tube, the two ends being united by folding the single cuff back-upon the double cuff after the surfaces of the tube which are to be brought in contact are buffed and cemented. The splice is then vulcanized either with steam or acid cure.

This invention has to do with the formation of the cuffs on the ends of the inner tube, it being the purpose of the invention to supplant the hand operation of cuffing or folding over the ends of the tube, and to do this operation quicker and easier than the hand operation.

In the drawings accompanying this application is shown one form of machine for carryin out the operation of culling, but it will e understood that the showing is of a single embodiment of the invention and is not to be understood as limiting the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for use in the cutting operation;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the head of the machine;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan and Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the expanding arms; I

Figure 5 is a detail of the valve;

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views showing the successive steps of forming the single cufi',

Figures 10 and 11 are viewsshowing the formation of the double cuff.

The machine comprises a base plate 1, from which rises a standard 2, the upper end of which carries a T-shaped coupling 3. From the coupling is extended a horizontal shaft 4: which carries the operative mechanism of the apparatus.

Secured to the shaft 1 adjacent the coupling is a cylinder 5, the interior of which houses a piston 6 slidably mounted by means of a sleeve 7 on the shaft 4. An inlet 8 for fluid pressure is located in the cylinder and a coil spring 9 between the piston and the rear wall of the cylinder serves to return the piston.

The sleeve 7 carries a sliding cross head 10' which is provided with a number of equally spaced arms 11, here shown as four in number. Secured to the forward end of the shaft 1, in front of the cross head, is a stationary cross head 12, the front end of which carries a bearing 13 in which are arranged four equidistant arms 14: parallel with the arms 11. On the arms 14 are carried reciprocable sleeves 15 to which are secured angular plates 16. The arm 11, the stationary cross head 12, and the slides 15 are connected by sets of three links each, the links pivoted to the sliding cross head being designated by the numeral 17, those connected to the stationary cross head by 18, and those connected to the slides by 19. At their meeting point these links are connected by pins 20.

As a result of the construction described, when air or other fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder 5, the cross head 10 moves forward, thereby spreading the slides 15 outwardly from the center of the spider. The plates 16 are connected to lingers 21 over which the mouth of the inner tube is to be placed so that as the piston 6 is actuated the mouth of the tube will be expanded.

In order to adapt the apparatus for dif ferent size tubes, any suitable means may be used for arresting the movement of the sliding cross head re ative to the stationary cross head at different points. I have here shown a number of swinging steps or latches 22 which may be pivoted on a bar 23 secured to the sliding cross head. The bar 23 may be provided with a rest 24 on which the stops are held out of the Way. Any suitable number "of these stops may be swung down to rest on the shaft 1, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, in which location they contactthe stationary cross head 12 and opcrate to limit the outward expansion of the fingers 21.

The inner tube, in expanded condition, will tend to cling to the end of the fingers and for this reason means are provided to strip the tube. Details of the fingers 21 are shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which it will be noted that the fingers are hollow, being provided on their outer surfaces with numerous small apertures 25, and that the ends of the fingers are open as at 26. At the base of the fingers are located nipples 27, which are connected by a plurality of flexible hose 28 with a manifold 29. Air is supplied to the manifold from a valve 30, a detail of which is shown in Figure 5. On one side of the valve is located an inlet pipe 31 and on the other side two outlets 32 and 33, the former connecting with the manifold 29 and the latter with the inlet 8 of the cylinder by a pipe 34.

A sliding valve 3% is carried within the valve casing 30, which is formed with an elongated passage 35 and an L-shaped passage 36 communicating therewith. lVhen the valve is in the position shown in Figure 5', the inlet 31 is closed and the cylinder is relieved through a short passageway 37 in the valve which connects the pipe t3 with an exhaust port 37. hen it is desired to expand the tube, its end is passed ov r the fingers 21, which are now in contracted position. The operator then presses upon a foot treadle 38, pivoted at 39 on the base 1 and connected by link 40 to the valve 34c. The first upward movement of the valve closes the exhaust portand admits air to the cylinder 5 which expands the fingers 21 and spreads the ends of the tube. The cuff is then formed, in a manner to be described later, and further depression of the foot treadle admits pressure to the expanders, whereupon the air rushes out through apertures 25 and through the end of the fingers at 26 and serves to form an air cushion between the fingers and the tube which will release the tube so that it may be withdrawn. A spring 41 returns the valve to normal position.

The operation of forming a single cuff is shown in Figures 6 to 9. The operator first places the mouth of the tube 13 over the fingers 21 in their contracted position. He then passes a longitudinally split sleeve 44 over the end of the tube a short distance back from the ends of the fingers. He then admits air into the cylinder 5 which expands the fingers to the extent governed by the stops 22, and forces the sleeve 44 within the encircling fingers and at the same time depresses the foot treadle to its lowest point, whereupon the air passing through the apertures 25 and 26 releases the tube and it can be easily withdrawn. The finished cufi is shown in Figure 9.

To make a double cull, the operator places the sleeve 44 some distance further back on the tube so that a single fold may be made on the tube without withdrawing it from the expanding fingers. He then admits air to the fingers and withdraws the double cuff shown in. Figure 12.

It will be noted that the expanding fingers move radially throughout their extent so that an opening is provided which flares outwardly. Were pivoted arms used, the opening would flare inwardly which is the opposite of the result desired. The air outlets loosen the tube from the fingers. the

outlets 25 operating on the inner surface of the tube and the opening 26 acting to prevent the tube from clinging to the ends of the fingers as it is drawn around the fingers.

Other advantages will have been apparent from the description of the apparatus as given, and it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made without depart ing from the essential features of the invention within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

lVhat I claim is:

1. An apparatus for forming cuffs on inner tubes, comprising a plurality of fingers, means to expand the fingers, and air cushioning means adapted to form an air cushion between the fingers and the tube.

An apparatus for forming cuffs on inner tubes, comprising a plurality of fingers, means to expand the fingers, and air cushioning means adapted to form an air cushion between the surfaces and ends of the fingers and the tubes.

3. An apparatus for forming cuffs on inner tubes, comprising a plurality of hollow fingers said fingers being perforated on their outer surfaces, means to move the fingers outwardly from one another, and means to admit air under pressure to the interior of the fingers.

4. An apparatus for forming cufi's on inner tubes, comprising a plurality of hollow fingers having openings on their extremities.-

means to move the fingers outwardly from one another, and means to admit air under pressure to the interior of the fingers.

5. An apparatus for forming cuffs on inner tubes, comprising a plurality of hollow fingers the outer surfaces of which are perforated and the ends of which are open, means to move the fingers outwardly from one another, and means to admit air under pressure to the interior of the fingers.

6. An apparatus for forming cufi's on inner tubes, comprising a plurality of fingers movable outwardly from one another, means to admit air between the tube and the fingers, air operated means to move the fingers,

HORACE D. STEVENS. 

